Heat Cable

[Luthien]

Just wondering if anyone on here is familiar with or uses/used the Repti heat cables for corn snakes?

Is there any chance of the cable burning my snake if she rubs/lays against it?
Is it safe to use in Aspen bedding and on wood?

[Ballchris]

I would also like to know about heat cable i would like to change from the heating pad to heat cable for my ball python.

[wrecker45]

Get a thermostat.

[yeloowtang]

I'm sure this is not what you are planing on doing BUT just in case !!!

you must NOT install that INSIDE the cage, it has to be under it.
the issue with the cable is that it's thicker so if using it in a rack system, you need to route out grooves to sit the cable in them..
if a cage, then it needs enough space under so the cable fits.you just serpentine it in the hot spot.

other option is to have it in the cage under a ceramic tile then seal the edges with silicone.. but the same problem of having an electrical cable that could possibly short out with fluide contact remains!!!! this is why it's never recommended to have heating products inside a cage.
even if you do it this way, you still need a controler..

but as mentioned above, either way you will need a thermostat to controle the heat..even if the cable is said not to go beyond a certain temperature, the thermostat is a safety net, if the cable heats up, the power will cut off when it reaches to high temps.
What you want is a set temperature and the controler will give you this.

other good option is heat tape, but you must also control it..
heat tape is in the 5$ pre square foot range, plus wiring.

[Luthien]

I'm sure this is not what you are planing on doing BUT just in case !!!

you must NOT install that INSIDE the cage, it has to be under it.
the issue with the cable is that it's thicker so if using it in a rack system, you need to route out grooves to sit the cable in them..
if a cage, then it needs enough space under so the cable fits.you just serpentine it in the hot spot.

other option is to have it in the cage under a ceramic tile then seal the edges with silicone.. but the same problem of having an electrical cable that could possibly short out with fluide contact remains!!!! this is why it's never recommended to have heating products inside a cage.
even if you do it this way, you still need a controler..

but as mentioned above, either way you will need a thermostat to controle the heat..even if the cable is said not to go beyond a certain temperature, the thermostat is a safety net, if the cable heats up, the power will cut off when it reaches to high temps.
What you want is a set temperature and the controler will give you this.

other good option is heat tape, but you must also control it..
heat tape is in the 5$ pre square foot range, plus wiring.

I've seen heat cables for snakes that say on the package that you can put them inside the tank with your snake, it literally said you can wrap them around branches to warm the branch.

Ya I would definatly be getting a thermostat that's not even an option.

The reason I'm asking is because when my snake is older I want to move her into a bigger area, the tank she's going into is a home made one and the bottom is very thick wood. No heat pad would be able to get through it not to mention... It's wood! I don't think heat pads would be very safe on wood.

[reptiledude987]

I have a wood terrarium with 4 compartments and I heat it with cable. I used a router to put grooves the cable fits into so its below the surface. thermostat is a must! then to keep the cable in place I used a thermo tape ( silver looking stuff for duct work). Just make 100% sure that there is no sticky parts of the tape exposed then cover with bedding.

[yeloowtang]

I've seen the ones you are talking about, they sell them or something the same at petsmart, I would still not recommend using them in direct contact with an animal.
it can be done, they are csa approved but i would still guide you against it, i'm sure other will have a different oppinion and even have experience with them in the cage..
i just don't think it's wise to do so..

the heat pads sold by exo terra aren't worth much and don't produce much heat at all.
even the desert one doesn't heat that much.
as for the wood cage, wood is actually a good material for heat transfer, unless it's going to be 3" thick ?? a standard 1/2" even 1" floor would be fine.
say you install a piece of heat tape 12x24 under the cage and set the probe inside the cage where the heat is. best would be to use a small tubing cut in half and have the probe in it. once it achieves the desired temps, the controler will turn off and then on when it gest bellow the set point. all you have to worry about next is ambiant temps, i would either recomend a radiant heat panel (best) or set up heat lamps protected by a cage so the snake doesn't come in contact with the light.. this will depend on the species you keep

and if you are worried about the heat tape being in contact with the wood,you can add foil tape to act as a barrier(not needed but some feel better doing so) the heat tape will reach between 110-125deg on full so it's more than enough to heat a cage floorand why it needs to be controlled..

edit: if i were to ever install it inside, i would do as reptiledude did, grouve the wood so the cable is flush and then cover it up, maybe even go as far as using vinyl flooring and silicone the edges for two reasons.
1- not having my snake in direct contact.
2- easier to clean

i'm really carefull when it comes to these things, sit back and try to think about what/how could the snake hurt itself.. if you can see a way, then chances are the snake will find the way.. then do all that's possible to do so it never happens.

[Luthien]

The cage is already made, has been for years I bought it from a guy when I had bearded dragons. I just want to fix it up and put my snake in because it's a nice big cage for an adult corn. I would say the bottom is about 1/2" solid wood

[pet_snake_78]

Heat cable seems unappealing to me though I must confess I've never used it so I may be talking out the wrong end here. Just seems easier to use heat tape to me and heat tape is very thin and flat which is nice. For a wooden cage, I think I'd consider an RHP, too, though I think some people do use heat tape under linoleum.

[jjhill001]

Heat cable's original invented purpose is to keep pipes and other things like that from freezing in the winter. It's designed to be used in wet areas. I would argue that it's probably one of the safer heating options available imo especially when you have to create warm spots in REALLY big cages. Of course always use it with a thermostat but that goes for all heating elements.

[Luthien]

Are cable's safe to use on wood? I was thinking of doing the previous suggestion of using a dremal tool to make grooves and laying the tape/cable in the groove then covering with tape. Here is what I was thinking of

Repti Heat Cable (http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=116&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=1)

Edit: sorry just read the instructions on it and can't use that one with wood, but I'm looking for something like it that I can use with wood

[Aaron_S]

The cage is already made, has been for years I bought it from a guy when I had bearded dragons. I just want to fix it up and put my snake in because it's a nice big cage for an adult corn. I would say the bottom is about 1/2" solid wood

You want a radiant heat panel. I believe they can be set inside an enclosure.

[Luthien]

You want a radiant heat panel. I believe they can be set inside an enclosure.

I doubt this could go in the substrate but I could be wrong?
If it could be put in the substrate where could I get one online that will ship to Saskatchewan, Canada? Because I've never seen them around my area

[millertime89]

Radiant heat panel attaches to the top. It's what I would recommend as well.

[Aaron_S]

I doubt this could go in the substrate but I could be wrong?
If it could be put in the substrate where could I get one online that will ship to Saskatchewan, Canada? Because I've never seen them around my area

Try Cornel's World. He's based in Alberta. I'm sure he'll ship to you.
Also try All Reptiles. It's a pet store in Toronto but they will ship too I'm sure.

My recommendation for anyone reading this. Pick the heating element before buying/building an enclosure. Sometimes it will cost more to fit the heating element to the enclosure or may not be able to at all!

[yeloowtang]

I got a few heat panel from Cornel's and the service is perfect,great prices and ships fast too..

i agree, depending on the size your cage is,, if under 36"L go with a 40w heat panel
if 48"L go with the 80W one

look at the options, you have a few... but i would go the
heat panel inside on ceiling of the cage for ambiant heat and heat tape under the cage's floor for belly heat.
i would control that with a herpstat2
#1 would control the heat panel
#2 set up on the floor for the belly heat
have both heat elements on the same side so the snake can have a cold spot when it wants it..
other options for sure but this would be my personal choice for both the easy part and efficient part..

[Aaron_S]

I got a few heat panel from Cornel's and the service is perfect,great prices and ships fast too..

i agree, depending on the size your cage is,, if under 36"L go with a 40w heat panel
if 48"L go with the 80W one

look at the options, you have a few... but i would go the
heat panel inside on ceiling of the cage for ambiant heat and heat tape under the cage's floor for belly heat.
i would control that with a herpstat2
#1 would control the heat panel
#2 set up on the floor for the belly heat
have both heat elements on the same side so the snake can have a cold spot when it wants it..
other options for sure but this would be my personal choice for both the easy part and efficient part..

A cornsnake ( I believe it's a cornsnake) should be fine with the panel alone. They don't need anything too hot to maintain a solid environment.

[Luthien]

Yes it is a corn snake but everything I have read for them says belly heat to help with digestion, they don't need over head heat. Eve really likes the belly heat (she's always on the side with the heat pad) so I would like to stay with underground heat.

I think I'm leaning to the heat cable with thermostat. I will groove out trenches into the wood, lay the heat cable in them and cover with the silver tape they use for duct work then lay her substrate. Sound safe enough? Opinions on this?

[Luthien]

Just to help a bit this is the vivarium, right now it's set up for a bearded dragon but it's the one I want to renovate in the near future.

Postimage.org / Vivarium (http://postimg.org/gallery/ojb355ms/)

[pet_snake_78]

Normally I would say you don't want to ruin the seal of the bottom of a wood cage but from my pictures I don't think the bottom is sealed anyway so it may not matter too much at this point. Piece of linoleum might make the cage easier to clean if the bottom is unsealed wood.

[Aaron_S]

Yes it is a corn snake but everything I have read for them says belly heat to help with digestion, they don't need over head heat. Eve really likes the belly heat (she's always on the side with the heat pad) so I would like to stay with underground heat.

I think I'm leaning to the heat cable with thermostat. I will groove out trenches into the wood, lay the heat cable in them and cover with the silver tape they use for duct work then lay her substrate. Sound safe enough? Opinions on this?

Have you looked into the affects of what snake poop may or may not do to it?

I personally am weary about anything in the enclosure and what issues it may cause.

I'd go with the panel as it's a cornsnake. Belly heat is nice but not needed either.

Up to you.

[Luthien]

It's sealed wood on the bottom and the branches can come out for cleaning purposes.

I would really like to have belly heat if at all possible but if I can't figure it out I'll go with the panel.

Has anyone here done the groove out the bottom and lay cable in then cover?

[jjhill001]

Have you looked into the affects of what snake poop may or may not do to it?

I personally am weary about anything in the enclosure and what issues it may cause.

I'd go with the panel as it's a cornsnake. Belly heat is nice but not needed either.

Up to you.

The snakes need belly heat is a weird Internet reptile care "fact" that is spread as gospel.

Is it the best for use in racks? Yes.

Is it often easiest way to heat a cage to an appropriate temp? Yeah

But depending on the species a snake will use a heat lamp just as well. In fact one of the most recommended snake books The Art of Keeping Snakes says that use of a heat lamp is a great way to get your snake to come out into the open to utilize the heat. There are pros and cons of all the heating types. For snakes that really need humidity you have to do a bit more if you utilize a heat lamp but it's doable in most cases.

I'm planning a large natural terrarium for my Baird's rat snakes and a heat pad is going to have a rough time heating through 3-6 inches of substrate.

[jjhill001]

It's sealed wood on the bottom and the branches can come out for cleaning purposes.

I would really like to have belly heat if at all possible but if I can't figure it out I'll go with the panel.

Has anyone here done the groove out the bottom and lay cable in then cover?

You could try buying little rubber feet to raise it up enough to fit the cord under.

[millertime89]

The snakes need belly heat is a weird Internet reptile care "fact" that is spread as gospel.

Is it the best for use in racks? Yes.

Is it often easiest way to heat a cage to an appropriate temp? Yeah

This, 100% this. If you use a heat lamp, what does it warm up? The substrate under it.

[malgus]

I use a heat cord connected through a thermostat and have had no problems. the cord is beneath the substrate and neither burns the substrate or the snake. as long as your smart about how you set it up then you will be fine